Topic 1
IML
Introduction to IS & Management
Introduction to Information Systems and Management
- Concept
- Information System
- Management Information System
□ Information System
An information system can be defined technically as a set of interrelated components that collect
(or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control
operation in an organisation. Information systems may also help managers and workers to
analyse problems, to visualise complex subjects and to create new products.
Information mean data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human
beings. Data, in contrast, are streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organisations
or the physical environment before they have been organised and arranged into a form that
people can understand and use.
There are three main activities in an information system:
- Input captures or collects raw data from within the organisation or from its external
environment.
- Processing converts this raw input into a more meaningful form.
- Output transfers the processed information to the people who will use it or to the
activities for which it will be used.
Prepared by Jamir Ahmed, Asst. Prof. Computer Science, SUB
Page: 1
Topic 1
IML
Introduction to IS & Management
□ Management Information System
Management information system (MIS) deals with the planning for, development, management,
and use of information technology tools to help people perform all tasks related to information
processing and management.
Three key resources in MIS are:
- Information
- Information technology
- People
□ Organisations and IS
Information systems and organisations influence one another. Information systems must be
aligned with organisation to provide information within the organisation. At the same time, the
organisation must be aware of and be open to influence of information systems in order to
benefit from new technologies.
An organisation is a stable, formal social structure that takes resources from the environment
and processes them to produce outputs. Common features of an organisation include:
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Organisational Politics
- Organisational Culture
Information systems have become integral, online, interactive tools deeply involved in the
minute-to-minute operations and decision making of large organisations. The formal
organisational unit or function responsible for technology service is called the Information
System Department. The information system department is responsible for maintaining the
hardware, software, data storage, and networks that comprises the firm’s IT infrastructure.
Six major types of information systems are:
- Executive Support System (ESS)
- Management Information System (MIS)
- Decision Support System (DSS)
- Knowledge Work System (KWS)
- Office System
- Transaction Processing System (TPS)
Prepared by Jamir Ahmed, Asst. Prof. Computer Science, SUB
Page: 2
Topic 1
IML
Introduction to IS & Management
□ Sample Questions
1. (a) What is an Information System?
(b) What are the three main activities of an Information System? Discuss briefly.
2. Define the term ‘MIS’. List three key resources of an MIS.
3. Discuss the advantage that business can get using Information Technology.
4. Name some IT tools that are used in present business environment.
5. What is organisation? List and explain the feature of an organisation.
6. Draw organisationl level diagram and discuss how various information systems can be
utilized in different levels.
* Students are advised to study the above topics from the text book and solve
conceptual and analytical questions for the exams *
Prepared by Jamir Ahmed, Asst. Prof. Computer Science, SUB
Page: 3